Hope you all are having a great start to your weekend. We share one of the famed producers in Napa, which was started by wine pioneer Donn Chappellet. Donn began his wine education by collecting Bordeaux wines while in college, and later ran Interstate United Corporation, a coffee-vending distributorship he co-founded in the mid-1950s, which he helped turn into the third-largest such business in the United States, with more than 7,000 employees and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1966 he sold his shares in Interstate United and guided by the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff of Beaulieu Vineyards bought 320 acres of rocky mountain terrain at the eastern edge of the Napa Valley. Donn saw this terroir as one which would connect with the great wines of Bordeaux. He saw the potential for Pritchard Hill and initially planted Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon which was met with great critical acclaim. Sadly passing in 2016, Donn became a legend of this great site in the Napa Valley.
A mainstay in the cellar, famed winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus has been at Chappellet remarkably since 1990. A graduate of UC Davis, Phillip spent time traveling to both Bordeaux and Burgundy to learn about these esteemed regions. In 1981, Phillip joined the Chappellet team as assistant winemaker, and then in1990, Donn Chappellet invited Phillip to return to the winery as Chappellet’s winemaker, a position he has held ever since.
I have admired these wines for many years and Phillip’s new wines really impressed overall. Look to his bright and beautiful 2020 Chappellet ‘Signature’ Chenin Blanc (OB, 91) which is fresh and viscous — truly one of a kind for Napa. I was blown away with the scintillating 2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows incredible structure and power, with beaming tension. This surely will cellar for another twenty years. Learn more about this famed Napa estate at chappellet.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Chappellet.
2020 Chappellet ‘Signature’ Chenin Blanc- This gorgeous new Chenin Blanc is geared towards freshness but also takes on a gorgeous texture. Ripe pear and nectarine flavors collide with minerals and stony undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2026- 91
2019 Chappellet ‘El Novillero Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Chapppellet sources from one block rom this site, all planted to Robert Young clone Chardonnay. The nose is downright killer with lemon oil and cantaloupe tones alongside wet stone and wild mushroom that all entice. The palate is silky smooth with a great sense of texture. Layers of marzipan, lemon cream, sourdough bread and shades of peat moss all takes shape on the palate. With great length and a seamless texture, with good weight and verve, this gorgeous new bottling will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 94
2019 Chappellet ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Calesa Vineyard’ is located in the Petuluma Gap and is set on shallow, gravelly loam soils. Ripe peach and kiwi tones mingle with Challah bread and kumquat rind on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured with a voluptuous mouthfeel. Ripe lemon zest and green apple mingle with minerals, lemon oil infused French bread vanilla cream and a delightfully long finish. Fantastic even at the two year mark, this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2028- 93
2019 Chappellet ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding new Dijon clone 12 and 15 Pinot Noir show off an outstanding sense of verve with good restraint. Pomegranate seed, tilted soils, orange rind and Bing cherry flavors all mingle with minerals on the palate. Firm tannins and a soft texture add to the enjoyment, as the 2019 ‘Calesa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 92
2019 Chappellet ‘Mountain Cuvee’ Red Wine- A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (44%) and Merlot (36%), this inky colored wine reveals ripe blackberry compote, chocolate, anise and a dusting of volcanic earth and salt on the palate. Medium-bodied and showing good restraint, enjoy this good value from Napa over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2029- 91
2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The thrilling 2018 Chappellet ‘Pritchard Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another sensational edition of this wine that is built for the cellar. This 2018 wine has 10% Petit Verdot blended in, as this sat for 22 months in 100% new French oak before bottling. Upon entry you are greeted to ripe dark currant tones alongside graphite, boysenberry cordial and loamy soils, with firm tannins holding everything brilliantly in place. Finishing exceedingly long, with plenty of power and a great air of tension, this outstanding new Cabernet Sauvignon will surely cellar for another two decades. Be sure to give this at least two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2024-2044- 96